Atwater’s Citizens

As UFCW 8 Retiree Steve Hernandez sees it, his

participation in a successful lawsuit to stop the opening of a SuperTarget in Atwater was a duty to both his Union and his community. (See article on page 4.)

“I know that superstores are bad for Unions,” Hernandez said.

“You need only look at what happens to a town when Wal-Mart comes in. The same thing would happen

in Atwater with a SuperTarget.” Hernandez noted that the big box stores force smaller businesses to close causing subsequent job losses.

Crime rates increase in the vicinity of big box stores and their employees get fewer benefits, forcing them to use publicly funded programs for their health care.

“That’s why I got involved,” Hernandez said. “Our community should not be burdened with the

problems that are brought about by a SuperTarget.”

Hernandez said he had to educate his friends and neighbors about why he became involved in the lawsuit.

“They did not understand that the store, especially the grocery portion, would not generate additional tax

revenues,” he said. “When you add in the loss of surrounding businesses and jobs, as well as the

increased use of community-funded health programs and police resources, you have a drain on the public coffers, not again.”

The 33-year industry veteran last worked as an assistant produce manager at Save Mart 392 in Atwater.

He said he was a proud Union member throughout his career.

“I worked in 14 stores,” Hernandez said. “And I’ve

talked-up our Union in each and every one of them. You can’t get the benefits we have any other way. There is no

way I could have retired at age 53 if I had worked in a non-Union job.”

Hernandez said he is pleased that the judges ruling halted, at least temporarily, the expansion of Atwater’s Target store into a SuperTarget. “I have no problem with

business expansion, as long as it is good for the community,” he said. “The opening of a SuperTarget

would not be good for Atwater.”

Official publication of UFCW 8-Golden State Jacques Loveall, President